Dispensing cabinet



PARKE DISPENSING CABINET Filed Aug. 18, 1925 fit ll atentetl fl nt, a

IlTUllVilJEtl] PARKER, till? llllfiltllllltlt', llvlll'llt f'llLl-lllttlEEltflElElIEl, ASSTGNUR TD BROJTIM COMPANY,

Ul? BERLIN, l lltll'W l-li-llltllPSlillllttlEl, fl. CUR-PUlE-tl-tTIUTtI E5" MAINE.

lDlESlPlfllilSThl'Gr GAlBlEhllETJ.

Application filed August lit, 19%. $cria1 No. SUafll-l.

' of the adjacent towel emerges therethrough so that it maybe grasped for withdrawal. lileretofore, such cabinets have found application in the wash rooms of large buildings and hotels, but have not been used extensively for household or similar purposes.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an attractive and durable cabinet, of simple and inexpensive construction, which will be suitable for extensive use and which possesses certain fcat'l'ires of construction which render it etiicacious and de pendable in operation.

One feature of the present invention relates to construction by which the sheets may be removed from the front end of the cabinet,

the successive sheets being directed toward the emerging slot of the cabinet by suitable guides provided therein. Another feature of the invention relates to a construction which of parts hereinafter more fully described in conjunction with the accompanying draw inr si .nch

Eli-f.

we in perspective v? the cabinet of the present invention with the cabinet fully opened and swung); away from its support.

l'iigure 2 represents a longitudinal section on. the line of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, and shows the cabinet loaded with towels. V

Referring to the drawings, the cabinet as shown comprises an open back receptacle for housing or containing a supply of interleaved towels as indicated in general at A, hiniaedly or swinggably mounted on a back or cover B. The cabinet is preferably constructed of sheet metal, and the receptacle A may be formed by pressing; a properly cut blank by suitable dies. Or it may consist of several pieces which have been suitably fastened to gether, as by spot welding, or of an intep'ral piece properly cut and bent to form, with its abutting edge portions suitably fastened together.

The receptacle, as shown, is of substantially rectangular or box. form, and may have stamped, raised portions l) in the form of rectangular panels on its sides, or any other design for the purpose of ornamentation, as well as to make the cabinet strong and stiff. The towels T are inserted through the open back of the receptacle, and are supported by the botton'i. l in a standing or upright position, the towels facing the front 2 of the receptacle. The front 2 is provided with a central horizontal elongated opening or slot 3, of proper dimensions to allow the removal of the towels, and through which the end of the foremost towel T projects so that it may be grasped and withdrawn. The edges of the front defining the slot are rolled inwardly in the form of heads 4-, 4:, so as to present a finished exterior appearanceto the cabinet, and to prevent excessive frictional. resistance to the towels as they are withdrawn from the receptacle.

To present the towels in alinement with each other and in proper position for emergence through the exit slot so that they will not become creased in. the cabinet or torn in recep le withdrawal therefronrwithin i .h and we ieu to the ends and 6, respectively, are the in clined plates or leaves 7 and 7, converging toward the exit slot 2. These plates act as guides to properly direct the towels toward the eXit slot, so that upon inserting a packet of towels into the cabinet, no particular attention need be paid to their perfect arrangeient or positioning. The guides also tend to hold back the reartowels sufficiently to perknuckles for butt hinge members 8 and 9. These members are rotatably mounted on a pintle 10, secured to a pair of spaced tubular knuckles 12 and13 at an edge of the back or cover B, so that the receptacle Amay be swungforwardland its open back made accessible for the insertion of a fresh towel supply thereinto. Between the knuckles 12 and 13 is located a torsion coil spring 15, one end 16 of whichengages the outer face of the end 6: of the receptacle, and the other end 17 extends. in the rear of the. back B, so that upon openingthe cabinet the spring 15 is tensioned and forces the. receptacle back to its closed position'fwhen it is left freely open.

To ensure a feeding or forward progression of the towels towards the exit slot, on the back B is hingedly mounted, near both its ends. a pair of spring hinged leaves 20,

.21. Each leaf is provided at its inner edge with spaced abutment hinge elements 22 and 23.' Similarly, tongues are punched from the back of the receptacle and rolledin the form of spaced complemental hinge elements 24 and 25. A pintle 26, secured to the elements 24 and 25, passesthrough the several hinge elements. The spring biasing actionof each leaf against the towels is'eflected by a coil or torsionspring27, wound around the pintle 26 between thehinge elements 24 and 25, one

end 28 of the spring engaging the outer face 21 of the leaf, and the other end 29 engaging the rear'face of the back. The spring thus tends to force the leaf against the towels when the cabinet is closed andto feed them forwardly toward the front 2 as those in front are withdrawn. The edge portion 30 of the leaf, contacting with the last towehispreferably rounded orcur ved somewhat, so as not to cut into or become embedded therein. Be-

I fore passing, it may be stated that the spring 15, which tends to automatically close the receptacle against the back, is sufficiently powerful to overcome the action of the small springs .27 .and to close the cabinet.

For the purpose of locking the receptacle to the back, at the edge of the back 3 is provided a locking member, consisting of a resilient metal strip having a n'otuberance or catch 35 constructed to engage in a mating indent or hole 36 of the receptacle A for maintaining the cabinet locked to the supporting structure. The outer end of lhe strip has thumb element 37 having a cam surface, by which the protuberance 3:) may he disengaged from the indent 36 to allow the cabinet to be swung forward from the structure 39 to which the back is secured. \Vhen the cabinet is autmnal'ically forced hack to the structure by the spring 15, the end 5 engages the cam surface of the element 37, forcing the spring strip laterally and then releasing it in a manner to cause the protuberance 35 to become engaged in the indent Sid. and thus locking the Cabinet to the back. The back is preferably provided with a pluralily of apertures or holes 40 theretlu'ouuh. so that the receptacle may be conveniently secured as by screws to a wall, door, or other suitable supporting structure indicated at 39.

In the cabinet of the present invention, the towels may be readily inserted within the receptacle without any particular attention to their proper alinement, and the plates direct them towards the eXit slot 3 in proper position so that the end of the foremost towel protrudes therethrough and may be grasped for removal. The leaves 20. 21 provide for a forward feeding of the towels, so that the cabinet may be depended upon to successively present the towels to the front 2 for removal from the receptacle. Moreover. automatic closing of the cabinet is provided, when it is swung open for the replenishment of the towel supply, so that the towels are not likely to become accidentally disengaged from one another, or to fall out of the cabinet.

It is to be noted that the entire cabinet is constructed of metal slampings, except for the small incidental parts such as the coil, springs, so that they may be manufactured inexpensively and sold very cheaply. It is especially adapted for manufacture in small units, each to contain about 100 towels. and is particularly suitable for household or similar use.

Having thus described this invention, it is evident that various changes might be resorted to in form, construction and arrange ment of the several parts, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. Hence I do not intend to limit myself to the construction herein set forth, but

What I claim is:

1. A dispensing cabinet comprising a back for securement to a support, a receptacle for containing a supply of interleaved sheets hingedly secured thereto and having a hori zontal slot at its front through which said sheets may be successively withdrawn, and a pair of inclined plates within said receptacle ill) eeaaea and converging toward the ends of said slot for guiding said sheets towards said slot.

I 2. A dispensing cabinet comprising a back for secureinent to a support, a receptacle for housing a supply of interleaved sheets hingedly secured thereto and having a horizontal slot at its front through which said sheets may be successively Wllll'lCllitWl], means tending to close and lock said receptacle to said back when the cabinet is open, and a pair of inclined leaves within and adjacent to the ends of said receptacles and converging toward said slot for guiding the sheets in proper position thereto.

3. A dispensing cabinet comprising a back member for secureinent to a support, a receptacle tor housing a supply of interleaved sheets hingedly secured at a side portion thereto, said receptacle having a horizontal slot at its front through which said sheets may be successively withdrawn, a pair of inclined leaves within and adjacent to the ends of said receptacle and converging toward said slot, for guidingthe sheets in propor position thereto, means tending to close and lock said receptacle to said back when the all idt cabinet is open, and a pair of leaves spring hingedly secured at each end of said back and bearing against said sheets in a manner to tend to teed them toward said exit slot.

l, it dispensing cabinet comprising a back member-"tor secureinent to a support, a receptacle for housing a supply of interleaved sheets hingedly secured at a side portion thereto, said receptacle having a horizontal slot at its front through which said sheets may he successively withdrawn, a spring en gagin g said back member and said receptacle and which becomes tensioned when swung open so as to force the receptacle back to its closed position, a pair of inclined leaves withand adjacent to the ends of said receptacle and converging towards said slot for guiding the sheets in proper relation thereto, and a pair of leaves spring-hingedly secured at each end of said back and bearing against said sheets so as to feed them towards said exit slot.

ln testimony whereof l have aflixed my signature.

HOl/VARD PARKER. 

